Another reason to feast... just because it's spring time.

 IT'S FINALLY SPRING!!!!!

These trees are planted near my apartment.

They used to look like skeleton, without flowers or leaves.

But look at them now!!!

All flowery and colorful and cheery and springy!!!

How beautifuuulllll..

To celebrate this flower blossoming occasion, one must.... FEAST!!!!

But guys, I'm not saying this just because I want to feast.

It's a legit festivity in Japan, which is called "Hanami"

--> direct translation, "flower viewing." 

Despite the highly unoriginal name for the event, it is a big deal in Japan.

It usually involves viewing hundreds of cherry blossoms under the tree, eating, drinking, and being obnoxious. 

Sounds silly?? YOU BET NOT.

In Japan, we even have blossom forecast, where the weather cast predicts WHEN the flowers are going to bloom and WHERE.

Some people even pay homeless people to reserve the spot under the trees, especially in popular parks/gardens.

You still think it's silly????!!!

Well just google image Hanami.

There should be thousands of photos that show gorgeous trees with full pale pink blossoms...

There are so many of them that it looks like there is a pink fog in the air for miles....

Oh how poetic. 

But you probably can guess that I, being a feast lover, am much more concerned about what to eat.

There is a saying in Japanese "dumplings rather than flowers," indicating that people are more interested in the feast part, rather than the flowers.

Well DUHHHH-----.

But do not misunderstand me that this even is just another reason for people to get obnoxious...

It is actually a thousand years old tradition, started around Heian period (early 700A.C.). 

It is quite cultural...cherry blossom is also a symbol of Japan... a fragile, delicate and breath taking flowers have always been the subject of poems, paintings, and heck tattoo patterns. 

Anyways, Hanami is still one of my favorite feasts of all time.

Having a good time with your friends and family under the cherry trees full of flowers, that only last for couple of weeks...

This might be just another reason for people to get together.
But don't you think it's quite a sophisticated reason to feast? 

How to get extra something for free at Shake Shack

I know what you are thinking...

I know you are thinking.. "wow yuri, someone's been too lazy to post anything for 14days."

Please! Please don't give me that dirty look!!
I'm sorry! I'm sorry!

Ok, whatever.
Man, I think I am falling into running-out-of-ideas-to-talk-about syndrome that I believe all bloggers face all the time.

Anyways!

So the other day, I was craving burger.
Succulent, meaty, and sexy burger.
It was around 4pm on Sunday.

So what would Yuri do?

Go to Shake Shack!!!
I'm not crazy about that place, to be honest.
I just don't think they are as good as people rave...
That's just me though!!

But I wanted a decent burger without tipping anyone, or being seated.
So I headed to Shaky Shacky.

There were small line, despite the odd time of the day.
I finally got to the cashier, who kind of looked nervous; perhaps it was his first day of work.

I ordered, double shack burger and cheese fries.
Don't judge.

After saying my order, he goes
"do you want everything for your burgerS?"
I caught that he spoke in plural but ignored and said
"no onions"
Then he goes
"Anything else beside burgers?"
I was confused but I said
"um, the cheese fries?"

Then the check-out proceeded.
I wasn't really paying attention and looked back my receipt 2 seconds after he swiped my card.

"WTF $15!!!????"

Apparently he put in extra cheeseburger, as he misheard me when I ordered cheese fries in the beginning.
No wonder he asked me twice and no wonder the burger was plural.

So I went back to cashier to cancel my order.
Obviously he refunded me for the extra cheese burger.

BUUUTTT here's the miracle.

When I got to the counter to pick up my goodies,
the extra cheese burger was waiting for me.

As a good citizen, I told the staff the cheese burger was by mistake.

Staff:  "well, we made it already so you can take it."
Me: "what, er, are you sure?"
Staff: "...yeah. I mean it's free for you."
Me: "I know but um, OK!!!THANKS!!!"


End of story.

The moral: when you go to shake shack, mumble your order so the cashier mishears you and charge you for extra something. Then go back to him and complain so he will refund you while the item is already in the making, and take the free stuff.

What a wonderful world.

How to cure the sore throat.

Hi!

The radiation leaks are freaking me out,
although I understand that medias have been exaggerating things
and I should know the level is way lower than the normal level.

BUT IT'S STILL FREAKY!!!! AHHH!!!

In the midst of the chaos, I get sick. Yikes.
Aaaand it was my spring break week. Double yay!

UGGGHHH WHY. WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO ME UNIVERSE?

So I wake up one morning, feeling this "pinch" on my throat.
I'm thinking "hmm weird...OH WELL!"

The next morning, I feel something poking my throat when I swallow.
And I go, "I don't know what it is... MEH. it'll get better."

And then, the next morning....

OMMMGGGG MY THROAAAT!!!

Every time I swallowed something, I felt like thousand needles piercing my throat.

NOT A GOOD SIGN.
But honestly, I was not going to waste $25 on my copay, just for my doctors to tell me things that I can find on googles.

So naturally, I googled "sharp sore throat on right side."

The downside of google search: it can scare you to death. Some folks claimed that they had the same type of pain for 6 months!! WHAT! Go to the doctors at that point, freaks.

Anyways, I found handfuls of home remedies that could work for sore throats... here:

1. goggle with solution of 2 tbsp of vinegar and 1 cup of water. (OMG this BURNS, and honestly I'm not sure how effective it was... but it numbed the pain for a while I think...) and I swallow the solution after...ew

2. Spray the Propolis thing.(this burns too but it temporarily relieves the pain...and it's kind of sweet)

3. Black tea with honey...(it doesn't burn and kind of relieves the pain...maybe I was imagining. ok NEXT.)

4. Some Chinese Herbal thing (it kind of....worked?)

5. Goggle with solution with salt + baking soda + water (I'm not sure anymore)

6. Tylenol syrup med (almost did nothing)

7. Tons of sleep (hmmm magically the pain is less the next day)

8. Boil slices of gingers in water, then drink that solution with honey (OMG....finally...?)


After all these trial and errors, I could finally yawn without my throat feeling like being ripped apart.

My conclusion to the best solution: Tons of sleep + any of those remedies

I think I had some canker sore on the back of my throat.
So much for freaking out.
Goodbye sore throat, goodbye spring break....

Tears...

How to get through the difficult times...

As many of you have heard, the biggest earthquake in Japanese history and huge tsunami hit the eastern coast of Japan.

I am, like everyone else, devastated by this horrific event and tragedies that are sweeping across the country.

I am though, surprised by how my country really kept it under control even in this chaotic situation.
Many people kept calm under the panic, even taking videos during the shake, and efficiently evacuated after.
Many social network sites (like facebook and twitter) were used to confirm the safety of people, to share the information, and to cheer each other up.

The trains started running a few hours after the shakes.
What was even more fascinating was that people, under tremendous stress, fear, and grief,
still lined up to get into these public transportation. And it was the same for grocery stores.
Some walked home for hours, again, in line, with an order.
I saw strangers comforting others, posts that thanked other nations for the aids and support.

I have always been critical towards my home country for its passiveness and cowardliness.

But this event truly has changed my perspectives on Japan.
Japan and its people were able to keep the inner strength and the sense of harmony with others,
which are very much the cores of its cultural values, even after the disaster.

I admit that there are a lot of issues that Japan needs to work on.
But I am hopeful that Japan will be able to get through anything,
after seeing some amazing stuff online and on the news.
I have never felt so helpless and far from Japan,
but at the same time, I have never felt so much love and the pride for my own country.

I hope other nations can take something away from this event, in order to tackle future natural disasters.
It is time like this, that you really need to stay together and help each other, to get through the difficult times.

My deepest condolences to those who are affected by this event.
And my sincere gratitudes for those who showed support and concerns.

How to comment on my blog....

Hi everyone,

I recently got a comment from someone that they cannot comment on my blog.
I was very upset to hear that because
It was blogger setting's fault, not the boring-ness of my blog that prevented people from commenting!!!!

Now my comment field is enabled!!
Feel free to leave any comment... just... be nice...about it. please...

That's all!

How to ride trains...elegantly.

I'm sleepy.
This time of the year, I am especially sleepy.
I'm usually a morning person who wakes up before the alarm goes off.
But recently, I've been hitting snooze...
I almost overslept for work once...

SHAME! SOME DISCIPLINE PLEASE!

Anyways. Enough about me sleeping. Oh, but yesterday, I dreamed about myself sleeping.
Isn't that weird? You are sleeping when you are really sleeping as well...

OK ENOUGH YURI, ENOUGH.

So yesterday, I was on a train on my way back home from school, around 9pm,
and I witnessed a few things and the title of this blog crossed my mind.

Honestly, New Yorkers need to ride trains in more elegant manners.
Not that it's any of my business but it's just annoying to see some things.
So here are some things that I saw.

I was standing in line when train arrived. There was this very thin, tall, pretty lady behind me, and several others waiting in line as well. As soon as the door opened, this pretty looking lady pushed everyone out and rushed to the open seat. NOT ELEGANT. 
And then, I was standing on the corner near the door and the train got to the next station. This guy, a broad shouldered man that looked like Peter from Family Guy, came in. He was eating a hamburger with one hand, and he bumped into me with his broad shoulder (I swear it was intentional), then gave me this glare. I mean WTF. NOT ELEGANT. 
While the thin pretty lady was sitting on her comfortable seat and the broad shouldered guy was eating his burger, there was this guy standing across me. He looked normal, until his hand reached near his crotch area and started scratching. Then he went on to put his hand INSIDE his pants to have better scratch. REALLY???? IN TRAIN?? That's why you have to wash your hands after you ride train. You never know who touched what. SO NOT ELEGANT.


All these things happened in 10 minutes or so of riding the train ok?
Imagine being on a train all day long.
I don't want to imagine what I will have to witness.
Here are the basic rules for elegance:

1. Don't fight for seat. Your legs won't break into half.
2. Don't eat in the train. It's just gross.
3. Don't bump into people on purpose. It's mean.
4. Don't scratch your balls. It's just gross.
5. Just stand/sit quietly, or talk with moderate volume of voice.
And just get off the train. Say "excuse me" when you need to push people.

I think these people above need to re-do elementary school.

Have a safe train ride everyone!

Let's wish for happy wonderful marriages to come...

It's March!!! Beginning of the Spring!! And Spring means...??? Fertility season! Just kidding. well, not really.


By the way, did you guys know that March 1st was World Pancake Day?
And of course, me, being obsessed with food, did not eat any pancake.
Tears...


What about March 3rd?? Do you know what this day is??
Hint: fertility.

The answer is.....











World Date Day! Just kidding again.
It's Girls' Day !! (called Hinamatsuri in Japanese)

On girls' day, typically, households with daughters displays these dolls.

Aren't they beautiful???
These represent a marriage ceremony from Heian Period (like around A.D. 800 - 1000 in Japan)







 We put out these dolls maybe a week or two before March 3rd to wish those girls happy wonderful marriages.


BUT you need to take down the dolls as soon as March 3rd ends.

Because the later you take down the dolls, the later the marriages would be.

No wonder all these dads were always so reluctant to store them away.
Not for their laziness, but rather the sad nature of fatherhood towards their daughters....

AAAAND you eat something like this to celebrate!

MMMMM yum....

Yes, every holiday should come with yummy food.
They also have Boys Day (although known as Children's Day now in Japan) on May 5th.

May 5th is a national holiday though, while Girls' day is NOT!


SEXISM!




Anyways, I am not going into that topic now... Maybe sometime...

Happy Girls Day everyone!